Lesson 9.1: Grammar Focus

Tap any speaker to hear the pronunciation. Study all seven points then head to Drills to practise.

冇

mou5

Not have / Didn't

Structure: Subject + 冇 (mou5) + noun / verb

Examples

我呢個星期冇做運動。

ngo5 ni1 go3 sing1 kei4 mou5 zou6 wan6 dung6

I didn't exercise this week.

我太太冇做嘢。

ngo5 taai3 taai2 mou5 zou6 je5

My wife doesn't work.

我冇嗜好。

ngo5 mou5 si3 hou3

I don't have hobbies.

Compare: 冇 (mou5) = don't have / didn't (negation of 有). 我冇時間 (ngo5 mou5 si4 gaan3) = I don't have time. 我有時間 (ngo5 jau5 si4 gaan3) = I have time.

有咩

jau5 me1

What is there / What do you have

Structure: Subject + 有咩 (jau5 me1) + noun (question)

Examples

你有咩嗜好呀？

nei5 jau5 me1 si3 hou3 aa3?

What hobbies do you have?

你有咩想食呀？

nei5 jau5 me1 soeng2 sik6 aa3?

What would you like to eat?

你有咩計劃呀？

nei5 jau5 me1 gai3 waak6 aa3?

What plans do you have?

Note: 有咩 (jau5 me1) = what do you have / what is there. Compare: 有冇 (jau5 mou5) = do you have or not? (yes/no answer). 有咩 = what? (open answer).

但係

daan6 hai6

But / However

Structure: Clause 1 + 但係 (daan6 hai6) + clause 2

Examples

我唔識英文，但係我想學。

ngo5 m4 sik1 jing1 man4, daan6 hai6 ngo5 soeng2 hok6

I don't know English, but I want to learn.

我太太唔鍾意食中國菜，但係我鍾意。

ngo5 taai3 taai2 m4 zung1 ji3 sik6 zung1 gwok3 coi3, daan6 hai6 ngo5 zung1 ji3

My wife doesn't like Chinese food, but I do.

我唔鍾意打機，但係我鍾意睇戲。

ngo5 m4 zung1 ji3 daa2 gei1, daan6 hai6 ngo5 zung1 ji3 tai2 hei3

I don't like video games, but I like watching films.

Pattern: 但係 (daan6 hai6) = but/however. Always connects two contrasting clauses. 我鍾意行山，但係唔鍾意跑步 (ngo5 zung1 ji3 haang4 saan1, daan6 hai6 m4 zung1 ji3 paau2 bou6) = I like hiking but don't like running.

會

wui5

Will / Would

Structure: Subject + 會 (wui5) + verb — indicates future intention or habitual action

Examples

我下星期會去倫敦。

ngo5 haa6 sing1 kei4 wui5 heoi3 leon4 deon1

I will go to London next week.

我會學廣東話。

ngo5 wui5 hok6 gwong2 dung1 waa2

I will learn Cantonese.

我平時會去踢波。

ngo5 ping4 si4 wui5 heoi3 tek3 bo1

I usually go play football.

Note: 會 (wui5) = will/would (future or habitual). Negative: 唔會 (m4 wui5) = won't / wouldn't. 我唔會去 (ngo5 m4 wui5 heoi3) = I won't go.

唔

Not / Don't (negation)

Structure: 唔 (m4) + verb / adjective — general negation particle

Examples

我唔鍾意飲酒。

ngo5 m4 zung1 ji3 jam2 zau2

I don't like drinking alcohol.

我唔識講廣東話。

ngo5 m4 sik1 gong2 gwong2 dung1 waa2

I don't know how to speak Cantonese.

我唔係英國人。

ngo5 m4 hai6 jing1 gwok3 jan4

I am not British.

Usage: 唔 (m4) negates verbs and adjectives. 唔係 (m4 hai6) = am not. 唔鍾意 (m4 zung1 ji3) = don't like. 唔識 (m4 sik1) = don't know how to. 唔會 (m4 wui5) = won't.

幾時

gei2 si4

When

Structure: 幾時 (gei2 si4) + verb / clause — asks "when"

Examples

你幾時得閒呀？

nei5 gei2 si4 dak1 haan4 aa3?

When are you free?

你幾時會去香港呀？

nei5 gei2 si4 wui5 heoi3 hoeng1 gong2 aa3?

When will you go to Hong Kong?

你幾時返嚟香港？

nei5 gei2 si4 faan1 lei4 hoeng1 gong2?

When are you coming back to Hong Kong?

Compare: 幾時 (gei2 si4) = when (general). 幾點 (gei2 dim2) = what time (clock). 你幾時去？(nei5 gei2 si4 heoi3?) = When are you going? 你幾點去？(nei5 gei2 dim2 heoi3?) = What time are you going?

平時

ping4 si4

Usually / Normally

Structure: Subject + 平時 (ping4 si4) + verb — describes regular habits

Examples

我平時鍾意做運動。

ngo5 ping4 si4 zung1 ji3 zou6 wan6 dung6

I usually like to exercise.

我平時會去踢波。

ngo5 ping4 si4 wui5 heoi3 tek3 bo1

I usually go play football.

你平時幾時瞓覺呀？

nei5 ping4 si4 gei2 si4 fan3 gaau3 aa3?

When do you usually sleep?

Compare: 平時 (ping4 si4) = usually/normally (habitual). 而家 (ji4 gaa1) = now (present). 我平時踢波 (ngo5 ping4 si4 tek3 bo1) = I usually play football. 我而家踢緊波 (ngo5 ji4 gaa1 tek3 gan2 bo1) = I'm playing football right now.

Each drill has 7 questions — one per grammar point — so you practise distinguishing all seven in context.

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CantonesePath A1 Grammar Focus — Lesson 9